1. Basic Project Information

Project Title:
Research on Frontier Intellectual Property Theory and Institutional Innovation

Research Period:
January 2023 — December 2028

Chief Supervisor of Research Oversight:
Maggie Bi Stanaway

Research Team Leader:
Xu Zhao

Deputy Team Leader:
Zhang Yang

Assistant Researchers:
Liao Wei, Qiao Wenzhi, Li Shirui, Wang Ling

Expert consultants:
Xu Jing, Zhang Ying, Song Xianlong

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the digital economy, cross-border trade, and global technological competition, traditional IP systems are facing major transformation. Particularly in areas such as AI-generated content (AIGC), digital copyright, online dissemination, data assetization, international patent evaluation, and the financialization of IP, existing legal systems can no longer fully adapt to emerging business models and technological development needs.

This project focuses on the modernization and internationalization trends of IP systems, with emphasis on core issues including IP securitization, patent system innovation, copyright and patent infringement in the AI era, trade secret protection, digital book copyrightization, trademark parallel imports, and United States IP strategies. The project seeks to produce research outcomes with both theoretical depth and institutional innovation value, providing theoretical support and practical reference for IP system reform, enterprise innovation protection, and international competition strategies.

 

2. Overall Research Objectives

2.1 Establish a theoretical system for IP securitization and IP financialization;

2.2 Promote research on innovation in enterprise patent evaluation systems;

2.3 Construct a framework for determining patent infringement and copyright liability in the AI era;

2.4 Deepen research on digital copyright, online dissemination rights, and trade secret protection;

2.5 Explore international IP evaluation and cross-border institutional coordination mechanisms;

2.6 Produce internationally influential IP theoretical achievements and policy recommendations;

2.7 Promote the application of research outcomes in IP system development and enterprise practice.

 

3. Main Research Directions and Project Content

3.1 Research on IP Securitization

Focus on studying the institutional pathways for IP as intangible assets entering capital markets, including:

  • Legal structures of IPasset securitization;
  • Financial attributes of patents, copyrights, and trademarks;
  • IPpledge financing systems;
  • Risk control and asset evaluation mechanisms;
  • Comparative studies of international IPfinancial markets.

3.2 Research on Innovation in IP System Management

Research focusing on institutional upgrading in the context of the digital economy, including:

  • Enterprise IPgovernance systems;
  • IPmanagement in platform economies;
  • Digital IPregulatory mechanisms;
  • International collaborative IPmanagement models;
  • Institutional reform under emerging technological conditions.

3.3 Research on Innovation in Enterprise Patent Evaluation Systems

Focus on researching:

  • Enterprise patent value evaluation standards;
  • Patent asset pricing mechanisms for high-tech enterprises;
  • Comparative studies of international patent evaluation differences;
  • AI-assisted patent evaluation models;
  • Patent asset capitalization and transaction systems.

3.4 Research on IP and Freedom of Speech

Focus on analyzing:

  • The balance between copyright protection and public expression;
  • Platform content governance and freedom of speech;
  • Fair use systems in online environments;
  • AI-generated content and freedom of expression;
  • Comparative studies of international judicial cases.

3.5 Research on Digital Book Copyrightization

Focus on researching:

  • Digital book copyright protection models;
  • Legal responsibilities of digital publishing platforms;
  • Dissemination and licensing mechanisms for digital books;
  • Copyright boundaries in the book digitization process;
  • Comparative studies of international digital publishing systems.

3.6 Research on Trade Secret Protection Systems

Focus includes:

  • Protection mechanisms for enterprise core technologies;
  • Determination of trade secret infringement;
  • Employee non-compete restrictions and data protection;
  • Cross-border trade secret protection;
  • Risks of trade secret leakage in the AI era.

3.7 Research on Patent Limitation Systems

Focus on researching:

  • Theories of reasonable patent limitations;
  • Compulsory licensing systems;
  • Balancing public interest and patent protection;
  • Pharmaceutical patents and social interests;
  • Comparative studies of international patent limitation systems.

3.8 Research on Patent Infringement in the AI Era

Focus on researching:

  • Ownership of rights in AI-generated technical solutions;
  • Legal recognition of AI-assisted inventions;
  • Algorithmic infringement liability;
  • Determination of patent infringement in automated systems;
  • Boundaries of patent use in AI training models.

3.9 Research on Copyright Systems in the AI Era

Focus on researching:

  • Ownership of AIGC copyrights;
  • Liability for infringement involving AI-generated content;
  • Data training and fair use;
  • Regulation of AI content platforms;
  • International trends in AI copyright legislation.

3.10 Research on Flexibility in International Patent Evaluation

Focus includes:

  • Differences in international patent value;
  • Multi-jurisdiction patent evaluation systems;
  • Cross-border patent transaction systems;
  • International patent licensing mechanisms;
  • Patent strategies in global technological competition.

3.11 Research on Trademark Parallel Imports

Focus on researching:

  • Theories regarding the legality of parallel imports;
  • The principle of international exhaustion of trademark rights;
  • Cross-border e-commerce and parallel imports;
  • Consumer rights protection;
  • Comparative studies of international trademark cases.

3.12 Research on Online Broadcasting Rights

Focus on researching:

  • Online dissemination rights for sporting events;
  • Copyright liability of streaming platforms;
  • Copyright protection for online live broadcasting;
  • Secondary dissemination infringement through short videos;
  • International online broadcasting regulations.

3.13 Research on United States IP Strategy

Focus on researching:

  • Development of U.S. IPpolicies;
  • S. technological competition and patent strategies;
  • International IPnegotiation mechanisms;
  • Reform of the U.S. copyright system;
  • Trends in U.S. AI IP

 

4.Research Schedule

4.1 Research Implementation Plan (January 2023 — December 2024)

Stage of Basic Theory and Institutional Framework Research

Main Tasks:

  • Establish the overall research framework for the project;
  • Collect domestic and international literature and case materials;
  • Complete theoretical reviews of key research directions;
  • Establish a case database;
  • Produce phased theoretical research reports.

Stage Outcomes:

  • Research reports;
  • Academic papers;
  • Institutional analysis reports;
  • Collections of international cases.

4.2 Deepened Research and Institutional Innovation(January 2025 — December 2026)

Main Tasks:

  • Conduct research on key institutional innovations;
  • Deepen AI IPresearch;
  • Complete research on enterprise patent evaluation systems;
  • Advance international comparative research;
  • Conduct specialized seminars and expert reviews.

Stage Outcomes:

  • Special-topic papers;
  • Institutional recommendation reports;
  • Enterprise IPevaluation models;
  • International comparative research outcomes.

4.3 Integration and Promotion of Research Outcomes (January 2027– December2028)

Main Tasks:

  • Complete the construction of the overall theoretical system;
  • Consolidate key research outcomes;
  • Promote international exchange of research outcomes;
  • Complete the final research report;
  • Establish a database of IPresearch outcomes.

Stage Outcomes:

  • Final research report;
  • Academic monographs;
  • International conference papers;
  • Institutional reform recommendations;
  • Publicly released research outcomes on the official website.

5. Research Organization and Management Mechanism

5.1 Research Organizational Structure

This project adopts a hierarchical management model of “Chief Supervisor — Research Team Leader — Deputy Team Leader — Assistant Researchers.”

Responsibilities of the Chief Supervisor of Research Oversight

Managed by Maggie:

  • Coordinate the overall research direction of the project;
  • Review major research plans;
  • Supervise research quality;
  • Approve the release of research outcomes;
  • Be responsible for international cooperation and external coordination.

Responsibilities of the Research Team Leader

Managed by Xu Zhao:

  • Organize specific research activities;
  • Coordinate the research team;
  • Advance project implementation;
  • Organize phased summaries.

Responsibilities of the Deputy Team Leader

Assisted by Zhang Yang:

  • Participate in research management;
  • Coordinate research reviews;
  • Advance key project research;
  • Organize academic discussions.

5.2. Research Outcomes Review Mechanism

During the course of the project research, research outcomes review work shall be jointly conducted.

During the review process, the professional opinions of expert advisors shall be fully considered.

Based on research needs, the project team may also entrust independent third-party institutions to conduct professional reviews.

All review results shall be directly reported to the Chief Supervisor of Research Oversight.

The external release of the project’s final research outcomes must receive written approval from the Chief Supervisor of Research Oversight before publication on the official website or other public platforms.

 

6. Expected Outcomes

This project plans to produce the following outcomes:

6.1 Research reports on frontier IP theories;

6.2 Academic monographs on IP systems in the AI era;

6.3 Research outcomes on enterprise patent evaluation systems;

6.4 Comparative international IP research reports;

6.5 Research outcomes on digital copyright and trade secret systems;

6.6 High-level academic papers;

6.7 International conference exchange outcomes;

6.8 Recommendations for IP system reform;

6.9 IP case databases;

6.10 Public outcomes published on the IP research official website.

 

7. Funding and Research Support

To ensure the smooth progress of research activities, the following should be established:

  • Research materials databases;
  • International case research platforms;
  • Academic exchange mechanisms;
  • Research archive management systems;
  • Research outcome review and confidentiality mechanisms.

At the same time, efforts should be strengthened in:

  • Data security protection;
  • Trade secret management;
  • Copyright management of research outcomes;
  • Standardized management of international cooperation.

 

8. Conclusion

This research plan is based on the practical needs of IP system development in the era of artificial intelligence and the digital economy, focusing on frontier international IP theories and institutional innovation issues, with the aim of promoting the deep integration of IP theoretical research, institutional reform, and international practice.

The project team will adhere to the integration of academic rigor, institutional innovation, and international perspectives, striving to produce research outcomes with theoretical value, practical significance, and international influence, thereby providing continuous theoretical support and policy references for the modernization and development of IP systems.

 

Maggie Bi Stanaway                   Date:  Jan 10, 2023

Chief Executive Director of USA Intellectual Property Research and Education Institute